Physical working capacity
Under the Physical Working Capacity (PWC) is defined as the in watts specified mechanical performance of a man at a defined heart rate. It makes statements about the continuous performance of the respective person. The usual specification is a heart rate of 170 beats per minute as a so-called PWC 170 . The PWC 130 and PWC 150 are also popular . The value is determined in the context of a step-shaped load test. It is common to specify the PWC per kilogram of body weight; the determined PWC is divided by the mass of the test person. Standard values for the PWC 170 for untrained, normal weight people are 2.0 W / kg for women and 2.5 W / kg for men. Typical values for adults are around 150 watts for women and 200 watts for men. It is sometimes not possible for people with heart disease to reach 50 watts.
detection
Similar to a Conconi test , the person is exposed to a gradually increasing load on an ergometer . The person's performance and pulse are measured at each level of stress.
The power that is calculated with linear extrapolation of several value pairs measured in the submaximal intensity range (power and pulse) for a pulse frequency of 170 / min is referred to as PWC 170 .
Interpretation and expressiveness
However, since the heart rate is a very individual variable, the performance at a certain heart rate is not one hundred percent meaningful. The endurance performance of a high-pulse person would be underestimated and a so-called “low-pulse” as well as people with high endurance training would be overestimated. The maximum cardiac output , the so-called maximum cardiac output , is usually reached at around 170 heartbeats per minute in the untrained, while in competitive athletes, due to the larger stroke volume of the heart, it is already at a lower heart rate (typically around 150 to 160 beats per minute ) is achieved.
Nevertheless, the current training status can be read from the PWC 170 and progress in the training process can be observed by regularly repeating the test. Exercising people can usually increase their PWC value by over 50% to 70%.
Since the performance of taller people is generally higher, a relative value "watts per kg of body weight" is often formed, which makes a good statement about the performance in body mass-dependent sports: Here again, smaller people tend to have better maximum values because they are also significantly easier due to the training itself. Typical values for very light, highly trained marathon runners and cyclists are 6 to 7 W / kg. Typical values for light top athletes are around 400 watts.
Individual evidence
- ^ R. Rost, W. Hollmann: Stress tests in practice. Georg Thieme Verlag, 1982, p. 85.